The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is investigating 23 companies for US patent infringement of Juul’s e-cigarette cartridges and components.
This investigation is the result of a complaint filed by Juul Labs in October 2018. Juul alleged that the accused companies had violated section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which among other things makes “unfair methods of competition” such as copyright and trademark infringement unlawful, as described by the ITC.
According to the ITC, as of the end of December the case was waiting to be assigned to an administrative law judge, who will set an evidentiary hearing. A target date for the completion of the investigation is expected in the next few weeks.
If the investigation is found to support Juul’s claims, the ITC is likely to issue exclusion orders and cease and desist orders, requiring the companies to suspend sales of the products involved.
